\u27a1\ufe0fLes poissons d\u2019argent ne sont pas dangereux pour l\u2019homme ni pour les animaux domestiques : ils ne piquent pas, ne mordent pas et ne transmettent aucune maladie.
\u27a1\ufe0f Leur pr\u00e9sence en nombre peut indiquer un probl\u00e8me du logement (humidit\u00e9, mauvaise ventilation, fuites).
\u27a1\ufe0f L\u2019humidit\u00e9 est le facteur n\u00b01 de leur prolif\u00e9ration
\u27a1\ufe0f Les \u00e9ventuels d\u00e9g\u00e2ts sont mat\u00e9riels et mineurs : grignotage des papiers et cartons.
\u27a1\ufe0f Dans la majorit\u00e9 des cas, des m\u00e9thodes naturelles suffisent pour s\u2019en d\u00e9barrasser
\u27a1\ufe0f Les traitements chimiques agressifs sont rarement n\u00e9cessaires et peuvent \u00eatre plus risqu\u00e9s que utiles s\u2019ils sont mal utilis\u00e9s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Brief overview of silverfish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish are small domestic insects commonly found in damp homes. Their name comes from their elongated, flattened, silvery bodies, which are covered with fine scales that give them a shiny appearance when they move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"poisson](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/poisson-argent.png\")
<\/figure>Characteristics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Scientific name<\/strong>: Lepisma saccharina<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Size<\/strong>: approximately 10 to 15 mm as an adult<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Apt\u00e9r insect<\/strong>: it has no wings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Colour<\/strong>: silvery grey with metallic sheen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Morphology<\/strong>: streamlined body, two long antennae at the front and three filaments at the rear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
A nocturnal, discreet and timid insect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The silverfish is a light-shunning insect: it flees from light and moves mainly at night. Very fast, it immediately takes refuge in cracks, skirting boards or corners as soon as it is disturbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It particularly likes damp, warm and poorly ventilated environments, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- bathrooms,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- kitchens,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- cellars,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- laundry rooms,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- under sinks or areas close to pipes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Unlike other pests such as bed bugs<\/a>, it does not seek contact with humans and never attacks voluntarily.<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"poisson](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lepisme.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAre silverfish dangerous to humans?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"plusieurs](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/trio-poissons-argent.png\")
<\/figure>\nSilverfish bites: myth or reality?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish do not sting or bite<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- They have no stingers, venomous hooks or stinging apparatus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They are not capable of piercing human skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not feed on blood or living tissue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
If you notice redness, itching or bed bug bites, the cause is likely to be something else (bed bugs, mosquitoes, fleas, dust mites, etc.). Silverfish are often wrongly blamed simply because they are visible at night.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\nDo they transmit diseases?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are no known health risks.<\/strong> Silverfish do not transmit any viruses, bacteria or parasites to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nFurthermore, even though they may come into contact with food, they do not pose a hygiene or food contamination problem.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lepisme-argente.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"chien](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/labrador-retriever-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nAre silverfish dangerous to pets?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t worry about your four-legged friends, silverfish pose no danger to pets.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Silverfish are not poisonous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not transmit any diseases to animals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There is no risk if they are accidentally ingested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not sting or bite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A dog or cat that catches one out of curiosity is not at risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Be careful not to use insecticide treatments in the presence of your pets.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you have pets at home, opt for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- natural methods (reducing humidity, cleaning, sealing cracks),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- mechanical traps without toxic substances,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- products that are clearly compatible with the presence of animals, following the instructions carefully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u27a1\ufe0f See also:<\/strong> Are bed bugs dangerous to pets?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSilverfish: what damage can they cause in the home?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish feed mainly on materials rich in starch, sugar and cellulose. Certain everyday objects can therefore be damaged over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nHowever, it’s nothing catastrophic; the damage is limited to nibbled edges, small scraped areas, or irregular holes.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe following items and materials are vulnerable to silverfish:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Pages of books, magazines, administrative documents or archives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Storage boxes, storage containers, files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wallpaper that has come unstuck or been damaged in damp areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Frequent damage behind skirting boards, in corners or under furniture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A nocturnal, discreet and timid insect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The silverfish is a light-shunning insect: it flees from light and moves mainly at night. Very fast, it immediately takes refuge in cracks, skirting boards or corners as soon as it is disturbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It particularly likes damp, warm and poorly ventilated environments, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- bathrooms,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- kitchens,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- cellars,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- laundry rooms,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- under sinks or areas close to pipes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Unlike other pests such as bed bugs<\/a>, it does not seek contact with humans and never attacks voluntarily.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAre silverfish dangerous to humans?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\nSilverfish bites: myth or reality?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish do not sting or bite<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- They have no stingers, venomous hooks or stinging apparatus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They are not capable of piercing human skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not feed on blood or living tissue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
If you notice redness, itching or bed bug bites, the cause is likely to be something else (bed bugs, mosquitoes, fleas, dust mites, etc.). Silverfish are often wrongly blamed simply because they are visible at night.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nDo they transmit diseases?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are no known health risks.<\/strong> Silverfish do not transmit any viruses, bacteria or parasites to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nFurthermore, even though they may come into contact with food, they do not pose a hygiene or food contamination problem.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nAre silverfish dangerous to pets?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t worry about your four-legged friends, silverfish pose no danger to pets.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Silverfish are not poisonous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not transmit any diseases to animals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There is no risk if they are accidentally ingested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They do not sting or bite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A dog or cat that catches one out of curiosity is not at risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Be careful not to use insecticide treatments in the presence of your pets.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
If you have pets at home, opt for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- natural methods (reducing humidity, cleaning, sealing cracks),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- mechanical traps without toxic substances,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- products that are clearly compatible with the presence of animals, following the instructions carefully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u27a1\ufe0f See also:<\/strong> Are bed bugs dangerous to pets?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish: what damage can they cause in the home?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Silverfish feed mainly on materials rich in starch, sugar and cellulose. Certain everyday objects can therefore be damaged over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nHowever, it’s nothing catastrophic; the damage is limited to nibbled edges, small scraped areas, or irregular holes.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The following items and materials are vulnerable to silverfish:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Pages of books, magazines, administrative documents or archives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Storage boxes, storage containers, files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wallpaper that has come unstuck or been damaged in damp areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Frequent damage behind skirting boards, in corners or under furniture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vanne-eau.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"STOPPER](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Poisson_argent_EN_1-1-600x600.jpg\")
![\"STOPPER](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Poisson_argent_EN_2-600x600.jpg\")
![\"STOPPER](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Poisson_argent_EN_3-600x600.jpg\")
![\"STOPPER](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Poisson_EN-600x600.jpg\")
![\"STOPPER](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Poisson_argent_EN_4-600x600.jpg\")
![\"Plant](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/EN_SOS-XXL-2-600x600.jpg\")